HOGS — SHEEP. 455 



of salt and access to good water, and there is no danger of 

 corn, husk or smut, as neither will hurt them. 



HOGS. 



I generally breed the Poland China hogs, as they are hardy, 

 good feeders, and are susceptible of making large returns. I 

 generally breed from old sows, as the pigs are stronger and 

 have better constitutions. I have had pigs sick from quinsy, 

 but never lost any from cholera, while my neighbors have lost 

 hundreds. I pasture them through the Summer, and feed them 

 soft coal occasionally. 



SHEEP. 



I have been always used to sheep, and had sole charge 

 of over three hundred, in England, for years. I considered 

 them the best paying stock on the farm, although we were 

 always troubled there with scab when large flocks ran together 

 in Summer. Foot-rot and other diseases were very rare. Two 

 years ago I wanted something more to consume the grass, and 

 add to the fertility of the soil. I bought one hundred com- 

 mon sheep and a Cotswold buck. At the expiration of twelve 

 months the wool sold at twenty cents a pound, unwashed, and 

 the increase was worth more than the cost of the original sheep. 

 This year (1879) my sheep averaged in wool, $2.05 each. It 

 brought twenty-five cents a pound, unwashed. 



I never thought it necessary to wash sheep, except with 

 tobacco juice for scab or ticks, after shearing. The buck I pur- 

 chased and twenty of his progeny died from some unknown 

 cause. They commenced to die in August. September 1st I 

 weaned all the lambs, when they died faster. I think when 

 they had to trust to their teeth, the green grass was too strong 

 and caused them to have scours, as they died in a short time. 



After all, I do not consider that I lost any money by my 

 flock this year. Nor am I discouraged, as I have now about two 

 hundred. I use a buck over one year old, as the lambs are 

 stronger. I use this buck two years, if he proves serviceable, 

 and put him with the ewes about October 15th or 20th. I 

 sell an occasional buck lamb to the butcher at from $2.75 to 



